Vehicle-step.



Patented Jan. 30, I900:

E. A. 0. ERIKSDN.

VEHICLE STEP. (A ipliation filed June 2 1899 (No Model.)

0 m. m w .6 Z h rr TTES PATENT FFICE EDUARD AUGUST OLEF ERIKSON, OFHILLSBOROUGII, TEXAS.

VEHICLE-STEP.

SPECIFICATION fo ming part of Letters Patent No. 642,215, dated January30, 19 00.

Application filed June 2, 1899. Serial No. 719,105. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that l, EDUARD AUGUST OLEF ERIKSON, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Hillsborough, in the county of Hill and Stateof Texas, have invented a new and useful Vehicle-Step, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to Vehicle steps which are capable of being swungout of the way so as to avoid obstructions in the road, and has for itsobject to provide certain new and useful improvements in the manner ofmounting the step, whereby the latter is normally held in its properposition for use.

To this end the present invention consists in the combination andarrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shownin the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in theappended claim, it being understood that changes in the form,proportion, size, and the minor details of construction may be madewithin the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spiritor sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a carriage having theimproved step fitted thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of theforward side of the step, illustrating the manner of mounting the same.Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the bearing-brackets,having a stop adapted to hold the step in its normal position.

Corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings aredesignated by like characters of reference.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2 of the ac companying drawings, it willbe seen that the step comprises a vertical standard 1, having a1aterally-extending arm or branch 2, located at its lower end andadapted to support the stepplate 3. At the upper end of the standard andextending laterally therefrom in a direction opposite to that of the arm2 is a bearing-arm 4, and pendent from the outer end of the bearing-armis an inwardly-inclined brace 5, connected to the standard 1intermediate of the ends thereof. The upper portion of the standard 1 isprovided with a lateral offset or bend G, which is located in the planeof the standard and its bearing-arm it. It is preferable to form thestandard 1, the

bearing-arm 4, and the brace 5 in a single casting; or they may be bentfrom a single rod and the lower extremity of the inclined brace 5 weldedor otherwise secured to the adjacent rear side of the standard.

In mounting the step to a carriage 7 the bearing-arm 4 is locatedtransversely across the lower side of the bottom 8 of the earriage, withthe step-plate 3 projecting a suitable distance outward and beyond theadjacent outer side of the carriage-body, and is connected thereto bymeans of bearing-brackets 9 and 10, respectively, which embrace the arms4: and are connected to the under side of the bottom of the carriage bymeans of suitable fastenings 11. These brackets are of substantially thesame form, and, as indicated in Fig. 3, are formed from a single plateor strap of metal bent intermediate of its ends to provide a bearingsocket or depression 12 and the opposite attaching-ears 13, which areprovided with suitable openings 14 to receive the fastening devices 11.The sockets 12 are adapted to loosely embrace the bearing-arm t, thebracket 9 being located at the outer end of the arm and adapted toengage the adjacent side of the upper end of the inclined brace 5, Whilethe bracket 10 is located at the opposite end of the armat and adaptedto engage the inner side of the bent or ofiset portion 6 of the standard1, whereby the step is conveniently held against movement longitudinallyof the arm 4 and transversely of the carriage. By reason of theconstruction hereinbefore described it will be understood that the stepis capable of a lateral swinging movement longitudinally of thecarriage, so that should the step encounter an obstruction it will swingrearwardly and upwardly, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, therebyclearing said obstruction and preventing breakage or damage to the step.

In order that the step may be held in its normal position, the outerbearing-bracket 10 is provided with a pendent stop-shoulder 15, which islocated at the outer edge of the bracket and immediately in advance ofthe socket or depression 12, whereby the bent or offset portion 6 of thestandard 1 is adapted to engage against the adjacent side of the stop15, whereby the step is prevented from swinging forward beyond itsnormal position after it has cleared an obstruction. As indicated inFig. 3, it will be seen that the stopshoulder 15 is formed by bendingdownwardly a portion of the plate or is cast integral therewith.

What I claim is- In a device of the class described, the combinationwith a stop having an upright standard, a lateral bearing-arm extendingfrom the upper end of the standard, and a downwardly-inclined braceconnecting the outer end of the bearing-arm with the standard, ofattaching brackets loosely embracing the bearing-arm and adapted toconnect the latter to a vehicle-body, one of the brackets being locatedat the rear end of the bearingarm and in engagement with the inclinedbrace, and the other bracket being located at the opposite outer end ofsaid arm and in engagement with the standard, whereby longi tudinalmovement of the bearing-arm is prevented, the outer bracket beingprovided with a pendent stop-shoulder located in advance of thebearing-arm and in normal engagement with the forward side of thestandard, substantially as and for the purpose set forth; In testimonythat I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signaturein the presence of two witnesses.

'EDUARD AUGUST OLEF ERIKSON Witnesses:

R. P. Row, L. N. MARTIN.

